Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Good morning! In the news today: Early voting in Coastal Georgia appears light, a Camden County data center plan is suspended, and a heavily criticized Virginia company challenges a state contract to a veterans home. Finally, we note some things for your radar. Questions, comments, or story ideas? You can reach me at craig.thecurrent@gmail.com.
NEWS: VOTING
Time to get to it
Early voting in Coastal Georgia for the May 19 party primaries appears light.
In Glynn County, for instance, 2,015 votes had been cast in early voting, as of Monday — 3.3% of the county’s 61,574 registered voters.
In Chatham, 6,139 votes had been cast in early voter, as of Monday — 2.6% of the county’s 233,744 voters.
So, it’s time to buckle down. To help you decide your ballot, The Current’s managing editor, Susan Catron, has compiled a list of resources, including a running list of campaign events where candidates will be making their final pitches.
Click here for the list and the latest information, and please let us know where and when a candidate will be appearing in your neighborhood so we can include it on the list. Send any additions or questions to staff@thecurrentga.org
NEWS: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
Camden data center plan suspended
A Florida businessman has suspended his efforts to transform a nearly 700-acre tract of land in Camden County into a data center, amid mushrooming local controversy over the proposed facility’s economic and environmental impact and an unusual plea from the commander of the Naval Submarine Base at nearby Kings Bay, The Current’s Jabari Gibbs and Craig Nelson report.
A public notice posted by Kingsland city officials said the application to have the tract rezoned as an industrial park to allow construction of a data center and to have a section of the parcel annexed by the city had been withdrawn. The notice gave no reason for the withdrawal and did not identify the businessman, Kirk Tovey, or his representatives by name. There was no immediate word from Tovey or his representatives about their plans for the 682-acre land parcel and whether he would resume his efforts to build a data center on it in the future.
NEWS: HEALTH CARE
Company protests vets home contract award
The Virginia-based company criticized for the substandard quality of care it provided at the state-run veterans home in Milledgeville is fighting Georgia’s decision to end its contract and award a $177 million tender to run the facility to a new firm, The Current’s Margaret Coker reports.
STG International, Inc., whose track record at the Georgia War Veterans Home was the subject of an investigation by The Current GA in 2025, has formally protested the state’s award of the new contract to Health Management Resources Governmental Service, LLC.
It alleges that the rival submitted a “misleading” proposal about its track record in running similar veterans homes in other states and wants Georgia to reverse the decision.
NEWS: POLITICS
6 things for your radar
- Split screen: On last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down Louisiana’s congressional map and narrowing the Voting Rights Act, Coastal Georgia Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Buddy Carter urges Gov. Brian Kemp to convene a special session of the state legislature: “Redraw the maps. Stop playing defense. Start fighting to win.” Says U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, “the court, sadly, poured fuel on this redistricting arms race.”
- ‘Undecided’ leading (1): ): In a poll of 1,000 likely Republican primary voters by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “undecided” was winning the GOP nomination of governor with 30%, followed by Rick Jackson (27%), Burt Jones (25%), Brad Raffensperger (14%) and Chris Carr (3%). The poll, conducted April 18-26, has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.
- ‘Undecided’ leading (2): In the same poll of 1,000 likely Republican primary voters, “undecided” was winning the race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate with 30% of the vote, followed by Mike Collins, 22% for Buddy Carter, 13% for Derek Dooley and 1% for John McColumn.
- Bottoms leading: In a poll of 1,000 likely Democratic voters by the AJC, Keisha Lance Bottoms was winning with 39% of the vote, followed by “undecided” (35%), Michael Thurmond (10%), Jason Esteves (8%) and Geoff Duncan (7%).The poll, conducted April 23-29, has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.
- Help or hurt?: Former president Joe Biden endorses Keisha Lance Bottoms for governor.
- ‘Direct role’: A new report says four “election deniers” — Burt Jones, Vernon Jones, Ken Yasger, and Edward Metz — are on statewide ballots in Georgia these mid-terms. “In 23 states, including five presidential swing states, candidates who have denied election results are running for offices that will have a direct role in certifying future elections,” the report by States United Action says.
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Georgia Veterans home operator fights state decision to switch $177 million contract
STG International is fighting Georgia’s intent to award a $177 million contract to operate a veterans nursing home to a new firm after allegations of substandard quality of care.
Voter resources: May 19 Georgia partisan primary, nonpartisan election
Forums, ballot and voting info, candidate lists
Florida businessman suspends data center plans in Camden County
A Florida businessman suspended his efforts Monday to transform a nearly 700-acre tract of land in Camden County into a data center, amid mushrooming local controversy over the proposed facility’s economic and environmental impact and an unusual plea from the commander of the Naval Submarine Base at nearby Kings Bay. A public notice posted by officials in the city of Kingsland said the application to have […]
Challenger disputes incumbent’s literacy record in Chatham County schools
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Roundup: Kemp rejects calls to redraw this year’s political maps, early voting surge, endorsements
Governor Brian Kemp has decided not to call a special session to redraw Georgia’s political maps this year, while early voting is off to a strong start and high-profile endorsements are being made in the upcoming primary elections.
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